Apparatus for tipping boxes

An apparatus for tipping boxes, comprising:

• a stationary support structure,
• a chute fixed with respect to the stationary support structure and including an inclined surface having an upper edge and a lower edge,
• a movable support carrying two tipping arms, wherein the tipping arms carry a first and a second guide extending parallel to a longitudinal direction and configured to engage respective outer, upper opposed edges of a box, the first and second guides being spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and
• a drive unit configured to move said tipping arms with respect to the stationary support structure along a straight direction inclined with respect to a vertical direction and to rotate the tipping arms with respect to the stationary support structure around an axis parallel to said longitudinal direction,
• wherein the movable support is rotatable with respect to the stationary support structure about a first axis parallel to said longitudinal direction, and wherein the tipping arms are rotatable jointly with respect to the movable support around a second axis parallel to said first axis, and wherein the drive unit is configured to control rotation of the movable support with respect to the stationary support structure around said first axis and rotation of the tipping arms with respect to the movable support around said second axis independently from each other,
• wherein said drive unit comprises a first rotary motor fixed with respect to said stationary support structure and arranged to control the rotation of said movable support with respect to the stationary support structure around said first axis, and
• wherein said drive unit comprises a second rotary motor carried by said movable support and arranged to control the rotation of said tipping arms with respect to the movable support around said second axis.